Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1887-12-14

people 1t is not proposed to entirely re-
lieve the country of this taxation 1t must
be extensively continued as the source OF
the governments income; and in readiust-
ment of our tariff the interests of American
labor engaged in manufacture should be
carefully considered as well as the preserva-
ton of our manufacturers 1t may be called
protection, or by any other name, but relief
from the hardships and dangers of our pres
ent tariff laws should be devised with espe.
cial precaution against imperiling the exist
ence OF our manufacturing interests But
this existence should not mean a conditio
which, without regard to the public welfare
or national exigency, must always insure
the realization of immense profits instead OF
moderately profitable returns AS the vol
ume and diversity of our national activities
increase, new recruits are added to those
who desire continuation of the advantages
which they conceive the present system of
tariff taxation directly affords them. So
stubbOrnly have all efforts to reform the
present condition been resisted by those OF
our fellow citizens thus engaged, that they
can hardly complain of the suspicion, enter
tanned TO a certain extent, that there exists
an organized combination all along the
line to maintain their advantage. We are in
the midst of centennial celebrations. and
with becoming pride we rejoice in American
skill and Ingenuity, in American energy
and enterprise, and in the wonderful
natural advantages and resources developed
by century's national growth. Yet when
an attempt is made to Justify scheme
which permits tax to be laid upon every
consumer in the land for the benefit Of our
manufacturers, quite beyond reasonable
demand for governmental regard, it suits
the purposes of advocacy to call our manu-
features infant industries, still needing the
highest and greatest degree of favor and
fostering care that can be wrung from
Sd Lott 10 lie 1ni6 hot fhn
increase in the price of domestic manufact-
ure resulting from the present tariff is nee
essary in order that higher wages may be
paid TO our working men employed in manu-
factories, than are paid for what Is called
the pauper labor of Europe All will &C
knowledge the force of an argument which
involves the welfare and liberal compensa-
ton of our laboring people. Our labor is
honorable in the eyes of every American
citizen. As it lays the foundation of our
development and progress, it is entitled,
without affectation or hypocrisy, to the
utmost regard The standard of Our labor
er's life should not be measured by that OF
any other country less favored, and
they are entitled to their full share
of all our advantages. By the last
census it is made to appear that of the
1872. 099 of our population engaged in all
kinds of industries, 1870, 493 are employed
in agriculture. 4,O74,2 38 in professional
are domestic servants and laborers), while
1,S1O,256 are employed IN trade and trans
portation, and 3, S37, 112 are classed as en-
ployed in manufacturing and mining:
THE NUMBER TOO HIGH
For present purposes. however, the last
number given should be considerably re-
duced. Without attempting TO enumerate
ALL it will be conceded that there should be
deducted from these which it includes 375,-
143. carpenters and joiners, 285, 4O1 MILL
ners, dressmakers and seamstresses, 172, 726
1873, 756 tailors and tailoresses,
1O2, 473 masons, 76, 241 butchers, 1.3O9
bakers, %, O83 plasterers and 4, S9l engaged
in manufacturing agricultural implements
in the aggregate to 1,2l4.O23,
leaving 2,623, O89 persons employed in
such manufacturing industries as are
claimed to be benefited by high tariff.
To these the appeal is made to save their
and maintain their wages by
change. There should be no dis
position to answer such suggestions by the
allegation that they are in a minority among
those who labor, and therefore should fore
go an advantage, in the interest OF low
prices for the majority; their compensation,
as may be affected by the operation OF tariff
laws, should at all times be kept scrupul-
ously in view; and yet, with slight refec-
ton they will not overlook the fact that they
are consumers with the rest; that they, too,
have their own wants and those of tEelr
to supply from their earnings, and
that the price of the necessaries of life, as
well as the amount of their wages, will regu-5
late the measure of their welfare and COM
fort. But the reduction of taxation de-
manded should be so measured as not to
necessitate or Justify either the loss OF en-
ployment by the workingman nor the lessen,
ing of his wages; and the profits still re-
manning to the manufacturer, after neces-
sary REIMBURSEMENT. should furnish no excuse
for the sacrifice of the interests of his en-
ployes, either in their opportunity to work
or in the diminution of their compensation
Nor can the worker in manufactures fail to
that while high tariff is claimed
to be necessary to allow the. payment
Of remunerative wages, it certainly results
in very large increase in the price of nearly
all sorts of manufactures, which, in almost
forms, he needs for the use of him
self and his family. He receives at the desk
Of his employer his wages, and perhaps be-
fore he reaches his home is obliged, in a
purchase for family use of an article which
his own labor, to return in the
payment of the increase in price which the
Tariff permits the hard-earned compensation
Of many days of toll.